Moving day with kids and pets: a Sydney plan
Tell the kids early, and give them a job
Children cope with a move better when it is not a surprise. Tell them as soon as the date is set, talk about what will happen on the day, and if you can, show them the new home or a photo of their room.
Give each child a job that fits their age: choosing which toys travel in their own bag, decorating a carton for their room, or ticking things off a list. A job makes the day something they are part of, not something that is happening to them.
A bag each for the first night
Pack a small bag per child that stays with you and does not go on the truck. Include pyjamas, a change of clothes, a toothbrush, a favourite toy or book, any comfort item they sleep with, and a snack and drink.
Do the same for the adults, and keep medications and chargers in the same place. If a bag is lost in a pile of cartons at 8pm, that is a long evening.
Arrange care for little ones if you can
Moving day involves open doors, heavy furniture and people carrying things through every room. If you can, ask a family member or friend to take toddlers and young children for the day, or arrange a sitter for the busiest hours.
If that is not possible, set up a safe spot away from the carrying path, such as a bedroom with the door closed and a few toys, and have an adult stay there with them.
Pets: a quiet room or a stay elsewhere
Pets pick up on the noise and the open doors. The safest option is for them to stay with a friend or at a boarding place for the day. If they stay with you, put them in a quiet room with the door closed, food, water and a sign on the door so nobody opens it by mistake.
Before the day, check the ID tag and microchip details are current and add your new address. Keep a copy of your pet's vet record handy, and if your pet gets anxious around change, ask your vet for advice well before the move.
Doors, gates and the carry
While furniture and cartons are carried out, doors and gates are open for hours. A cat slipping out, a dog bolting for the street or a toddler heading for the driveway can happen in seconds.
Make one adult responsible for doors and gates, and mark any gate that must stay closed. Tell your coordinator on the day about anything like that, such as a pet shut in a room or a gate to keep closed, so the crew knows before they start. The guide to moving day explains how the day runs from the first call to the walk-through.
At the new home: beds and kids' rooms first
Furniture is placed in the room it belongs in, so beds can go up first and the kids' rooms can be made up before anything else. Make the beds, put the first-night bags beside them and set out a few familiar things, and children will have somewhere that already feels like theirs.
Do the same for pets: set up their bed, bowls and litter tray in a quiet room, keep them inside for the first few days and let them explore the rest of the home slowly. After placing, the crew walks the rooms with you, which is a good moment to check any door or gate that needs to stay shut.
Apartments add lifts, strata rules and loading zones, covered in the apartment move guide. To plan the day around your household, read about home removals in Sydney or request a quote.